Life with my sister

The rain has stopped and the sun is out. The weather is cool and crisp. It is really wonderful here in south Arkansas. I have baked and cooked. I have changed all the summer clothes out and put winter clothes in the closets. And I have failed to get any of the boys coats for this season. It seems that that would be an easy, almost unspoken task. One that I would do every September. But apparently not. It is cold and they have no coats. But as much as they run around when they are outside, I don't even think they notice they need coats! And I'll get them coats soon! On a more personal note. I haven't told you lately how much I love my husband. It has been a difficult year for him and an even worse last couple of months. Through all of the turmoil that we have been living in, we have become closer and have fallen in a deeper love with each other than ever before. He is an only child and both of his parents have faced medical challenges since this summer. His dad had a heart ...

I mean really! I long for the days when we would eat lunch, get our swimsuits on and head to the pool. Oh! How wonderful those days were. The sun would bake into my skin coloring it a deep dark brown. My children would play in the pool without assistance from me. I could be their mother, yet still soak up the sun's rays, read a book and drink a Sonic Route 44. Oh, those were the days and I want them back! You see, since the pool closed, school has started. School at home. We do school in the morning, which leaves our afternoons free. FREE!!!!! Free to clean, to make messes, to discipline, to act like heathen children that have never seen the indoors before. Where did these children come from? They look like my children, but seriously, they act as if they have lived outdoors all of their lives. They run, yell, throw, play ball, stand on chairs(and break them-OH MY!). All I do all day is get on to them. Does anyone feel my pain? I think about how restful my day would be if they were ...

When I was a little girl my parents bought me a stuffed monkey at Cracker Barrel during one of their trips to Ridgecrest . I cherished that little thing. It had holes in its nose, mouth and ears and you cold stick its fingers and toes in the holes. It was great. When Sambo was born, I let Jules borrow it for him to enjoy with the condition I have it returned to me for my kid(s). I was 19 and ignorant and should have thought through the donation a bit more. I asked Jules a couple of years ago if my monkey was in good keeping. She blew me off and said she wasn't sure where it was but it was around. Well, today I asked her about it and she informed me she lost it a number of years ago. I think she or Stephen threw it away...Stephen has a knack for tossing things ( the Raggedy Ann trash Can.... Humm - hmmm ). I called my Mama at work and informed her of this tragedy. She has known about it for a few years and searches for a replacement all the time. I am appalled and most sad. Juli...

Update: Aunt Babs is doing much better and healing at home. Things are much brighter for all of them after such a rough few weeks. Thank you for lifting them up in your prayers Please lift up our Aunt Babs, cousin Hollye, Uncle Joe, Matthew and little Claire in your prayers this week. Babs had a knee replacement two weeks ago. She is back in the hospital with some complications from her pain medicine. Hollye is nursing her back to health at the hospital and exhausted from also taking care of Claire’s broken arm. Last night they all got word their best family friends died in a car accident, while traveling in Kentucky. We of course are all saddened and shocked by this terrible news, yet they are experiencing even more pain from this loss because they were such dear friends. Pray that they can hold it together right now and Babs can get home soon and physically recover so she can deal with this huge loss. Six year old Claire put it in perspective last night when she said “ It was their ...